Totally understand your reasoning and I'm not by any means berating your parts. I've dealt with many of the same scenarios while machining parts for the Space Shuttle in my previous 25 yrs. But dealing with cost cutting by the contractors puts one in the frame of mind to look for the "best and cheapest" route to get the jobs done. If store bought items come close to what I can make at a much cheaper price, then it's a no-brainer. I do a ton of diligent research before testing a product. I could have made a titanium tubed DCAI with ceramic coating (at an ultra-extreme cost), but the one I put together with store bought parts cost 1/2 of what a Needswings DCAI cost, though I do sacrifice 3-5 hp. For my daily driver, it's more than enough to beat up on all the C5s and 350Zs and the like that think they need to race me home from work every day. (They don't call it the NASA 500 for nothin!)

As for the DIY rods, they have been perfect. No need to clean threads (although I do have the full compliment of left and right hand tap and dies in SAE and metric, including UNJ, UNEF and BSP). The tubes are made by Allstar Performance so no discrepancy in the lengths (and if there were, hey, the rod ends are adjustable ). A little Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 for thread lube and some waterproof boat trailer wheel bearing grease for the ends and all is good for the last several months. Not even the slightest creak or squeak.

I absolutely respect all that you do Rudy, and wish I could do the same. But working 10 hr days 6 days a week, and repairing computers every day after work leaves me very little personal time. Please keep up the great contributions you've always given us. You are what makes our forum and our cars so special!


Mikey